We say goodbye to Amelia Tollet
As we say farewell to Amelia Tollet at the end of her three month summer internship at Peak Proteins, Hazel Weir, Director of BD, caught up with Amelia before she left to go back to Liverpool University for the final year of Biochemistry degree.
As Amelia was our first summer internship, we were keen to find out what she had learned from the experience.
Working at Peak Proteins
Q: So what have you been up to in your time with us Amelia?
“I’ve been working on a client FTE project which required the production of a large number of protein variants to test them out for their suitability for crystallography. It was great to be able to follow a similar protocol for several constructs as it really embedded the purification methods I had to use. It wasn’t all plain-sailing but by speaking to other members of the team I learned to trouble shoot really well. A key thing I did learn was that even small changes to the amino acids within a protein construct can have significant effects on how it behaves and purifies; something I hadn’t appreciated before”
Skills gained at Peak Proteins
Q: What skills have you learnt?
“In terms of practical skills, I been lucky enough to use a wide range of purification methods such as nickel affinity, heparin affinity, both cation and anion exchange as well a size exclusion chromatography. I’ve cleaved tags from proteins using TEV protease and used subtractive nickel affinity chromatography to remove the tag and the TEV protease from the final protein reagent.
In addition, I’ve also seen how the proteins I make are used in crystallography screens so really nice to see the next step in the project and the data that generated”.
Other benefits from the intern experience
Q: Anything else that you’ve found useful?
“I’ve certainly gained a lot more commercial awareness, what the goals and aspirations of a CRO like Peak Proteins are and how to provide a service that people need, and operate as a business at the same time – really interesting and something I’ve never thought of or been exposed to before”
Q: What have you learned that will help you in your final year at Liverpool?
“I was surprised how independently I was able to work which has given me a lot more confidence in myself and my ability to work in a lab. I’ve requested a final year lab based project and I’m really hoping I’m allocated one. I’ll be much more confident and at home in a lab and able to tackle things more quickly I’m sure.
I’ve also learnt a lot about the theory behind proteins and the techniques and I’ve now got a much better understanding of the course work I’ve done now that I have experienced some of it first-hand. I’m sure it will help al lot with the protein modules in my final year.
I’m really grateful to Peak Proteins for giving me this fantastic opportunity and experience – thank-you”
As Mark Abbott, Managing Director commented “We weren’t sure how a short term placement with a university student would work out, in terms of training needed and how much they would be able to achieve in a short time frame but we have been delighted with the Amelia’s willingness to learn, how quickly she was able to offer significant help in the project and nice to see how quickly she grew scientifically over the summer. It’s certainly something we would consider doing again”
So all that remains is for us to wish Amelia all the best in her final year at Liverpool University…and who knows, she might be back at some point in the future!
